Uvalde, Texas Native Matthew McConaughey Gives Powerful Gun Reform Speech at White House Press Briefing: 'Only Green Converse Could Identify Them'

Matthew McConaughey is speaking out against gun violence following the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

The school shooting in Uvalde, Texas was a horrific tragedy. The unnecessary and thoughtless loss of lives, specifically the lives of nineteen young students and two teachers, has broken the hearts of the world.

The call to reform United States gun laws has once again come to the forefront of conversation. People are speaking out, trying to make their voices heard, demanding reform that would limit such atrocities from happening again. Reform that has already limited such atrocities in other nations.

During this tragic time, some with platforms larger than the average person are using their influence to speak on the issues themselves and seek to effect meaningful change. One such person is Matthew McConaughey.

Matthew McConaughey is from Uvalde, Texas.

The actor spoke today, June 7th 2022, at the White House Press Briefing. He pointed out not only the immense tragedy of there being any shooting at all, but the additional, unthinkable scale of the brutality of their deaths that came from the weapon used.

One student's body was only identifiable by the green converse that she used to wear every day, with a heart on the toe to symbolize how much she loved the Earth.

Due to the unnecessary violent functionality of the AR-15, the bodies of several children were unidentifiable after being shot. McConaughey pointed out:

"These bodies were very different...They needed extensive restoration. Why? Due to the exceptionally large exit wounds of an AR-15 rifle. Most of the bodies so mutilated that only DNA tests or green Converse could identify them. Many children were left not only dead, but hollow." 

McConaughey, a man who has been known for owning guns, went on to demand gun reform and heightened safety checks. We are so grateful for his powerful words, though we are unspeakably saddened that they are still necessary. We hope that he continues this fight until the message is heard and change is made.